just

Whatever manager comes in next, either this season or in the future, they must IMO be 100% fluent in english. No more Big Phils or Claudios. I listen to Scolari interviewed and I'm always struggling to understand what he is saying. He struggles to articulate his thoughts. I'm damn sure he has trouble communicating effectively with the players at times. There's no hiding the fact we've gone backward massively since Jose left. Forget about players. Just focus on basic details like how sloppy we are at defending set pieces. How random the marking is. How unstructred and lacksidaisical we appear at pre-match warm-ups. How inflexible we appear to be to formation changes. During Jose's reign we heard from player after player and all members of the backroom staff about how meticulous Mourinho was in his preparation. The players knew that kind of management and preparation gave them an edge. A belief. That belief's gone and it was never coming back under Avram Grant and unfortunately it looks like it won't be coming back under Big Phil. As for players, well we can talk all night about who should stay or go, but until we get a couple of players, (preferably wide players), with geniune pace, who can go past people with the ball at their feet, then we are gonna continue to struggle. Andy Grey on the Last Word show on SKY made an astute observation when he said, "Chelsea? Well, I just think they were so one paced today." He was right. We were.

Yes, he's not very good. I can't understand all this talk about not throwing in a few youngsters. What has a player like Malouda ever done to show they deserve a starting spot over a Stoch or a Sinclair? Also, this is third round FA Cup day against Southend. It's possibly the biggest stage their players will ever have. They are going to be up for it 110%. Do you really believe this game has the same significance for players like Malouda and Deco? I don't. Which is why I'd be more than happy to see a few youngsters take their places tomorrow. After all we've made this mistake before. Scolari put a strong team filled with first team squad players, including Deco, Malouda and Kalou, against Burnley. And look what happened.

Liked some of the comments under the video clip: "Because we're chelsea and we have a phobia of bringing the youth through and just end up loaning them out. We dont even play them in early FA cup rounds or carling cup. It's ridiculous". "Scolari, please watch this video. Malouda will never do these things" I have also seen a bit of him on CTV. Possibly a bit small but then so were Zola and Pat Nevin and like them he is a flair player with a capital F. He looks very promising indeed. Still, three years out on loan with lower leagues sides, then sitting on our bench for another season and finally a few games where he is thrown on for the last five minutes, (if he's lucky), should put paid to that.

3rd round FA Cup day. Love it. Nothing else like it. Everything football should be about. Loads of away fans from a tiny club having one of the biggest footballing days of their lives and making the type of atmosphere at SB we struggle to create ourselves these days. Hopefully it will be a freezing cold day as well. Not a day or a fixture for the Decos the Kalous and the Maloudas. Nor for the Ruperts, Tarquins and Fionas. Hope to see Sinclair and Stoch get some worthwhile pitch time. Altogether now; "when Wise, went up to lift the FA cup......................."

Pretty much agree with all of that. Firstly, some thoughts on the performance of the mousers. If it wasn't for Given, who literally had the game of his life today, Liverplod could well have hit double figures. And although the barcodes didn't defend brilliantly, I felt the result was more down to the tempo Liverpoo played at than anything else. To see the main difference between them and us just watch and see how many players they committed forward. Everytime they got the ball in the final third they had so many options to choose from in and around the Newcastle box. I've said all along that we must consider Liverplod as genuine title contenders, that I didn't think they would fade out as in previous seasons. They have the squad, they have had their share of luck, they have two of their very best players, (Torres and Skrtel), soon to return from long-term injuries, and most importantly, for any team wanting to win the title, they have the self-belief. It's now got to the stage where I am wanting Man U to win all their games because when it comes to winning the league I am a fully paid-up member of A.B.T.S. Anyone But The Scousers. In respect of our game yesterday, I felt a draw was on the cards from the off. Scolari, like Grant before him, is still frightened of pairing Anelka and Drogba together up front. For the life of me, I can't understand why. I think it is our only hope of winning anything this year. Fulham away is always a difficult fixture for us. It is their game of the season. Their players and fans get up for that game like we do for Tottenham. Overall we had the lion's share of possession and controlled the game. The only real criticism for me is I would have liked to have seen us create more chances and finish a higher percentage of those that we did manufacture. It was good to see Carvalho back, but I worry that a long-term pairing of him and Ivanovich would make us far more vunerable at set-pieces as neither of them are aerially dominant. Like Chippy says, this result doesn't mean we are out of the title race. Far from it. But I do hope we do some business in the transfer window. We need someone who can go past people at pace and score a few goals. I saw Robinho in the MOTD highlights last night and once again couldn't help but wonder at the difference he could have made to us.

Hopefully, start with exactly the same side as against the Baggies. Let's go for the win against our next door neighbours. It won't be easy because Hodgson looks to have sorted them out defensively and, as we all know, any game against us is treated as a cup-final by their fans. Make no mistake, they always want to beat us more than other side. Oh, and apparently Bullard came off injured yesterday. If he doesn't play against us that will help.

Did many people watch this one yesterday? How lucky were United to get the three points there? Stoke looked well worth the draw, and possibly even more. Until that tit of a midfielder lost his head and went right through Ronaldo for his second yellow they looked more than comfortable. And both Rooney and Ronnie could have been carded by the ref. Rooney for swinging an elbow, (although to be fair he didn't make much contact), and Ronaldo for kicking out after a tackle. Old Red Nose looked jubilant at the final whistle probably because he knew they had had Lady Luck on their side. Agreed ourselves and Liverplod have not exactly been setting the world on fire lately but United were very average yesterday. Play like that against better sides and they will drop points.

So long as Cech's in goal and Drogba and Anelka are paired together up front from the start, (not with Nic stuck out on the wing like last year's Carling Cup final), I don't particularly care who else is in the team. I'm more convinced than ever that if we don't give Drogs and Anelka the chance to form a partnership on the pitch soon our hopes of winning anything this season are practically non-existent.

Dorset, you answered that yourself in your previous post!!! Here; "I maintain that this type of tackle, when carried out properly to win the ball, is an integral part of the game" And I agreed in my last post here: "If they time it right, make contact with the ball and not the player, then of course it's a perfectly legimate tackle. But if players make that type of challenge and get it wrong, as JT did, they can have no argument with a referee sending them off". They deciding factor, the crux of our argument using your words, is did JT carry it out properly? Did he make a fair tackle? Did he win the ball Dorset? No. He quite obviously didn't. He got it wrong. He missed timed it. Missed the ball, but caught the player high and late. Therefore, under the current rules, the ref was perfectly correct in sending him off. I guess this is one where we are going to have to agree to disagree. But what I would add is I concur with everything Geezer has written in his last post. Which ever way you add it up John Terry was a fool on Monday night. A fool whose stupidity arguably cost us two points and the chance to be top of the league.

I would guess I've seen the challenge a dozen times or so since the game. There was a clip of it on YouTube but it has been withdrawn now. Osman is definately not jumping up to win the ball Dorset. He sees Terry flying in and, as lifts the ball over him, he jumps up to avoid the contact he knows is coming. It's self-protection. It's an instinctive reflex. He knows if he doesn't get out of the way he is going to get hurt. Probably very badly. I agree the challenge by JT, though very bad IMO, and rightly punished with a red card, is nowhere near as bad as Keane's assault on Alf Inge Halaand. As we all know Keane's was completely pre-meditated. He fully intended to do Halaand damage and eventually admitted it publically in his book. As I said previously, I'm positive there was no intent to cause harm on JT's part. But I'm just as positive that some people would change their view if Osman hadn't been quick enough to get out of the way and had had his leg broken. However, they would be wrong to do so because they would be judging the issue by the outcome, not by the actual challenge itself. The challenge remains the same, broken leg or not. I found this part of your post interesting: "Well, a definition would be nice and I see that yours is ’sliding in, feet off the ground, studs up’, which, with intent sidelined to irrelevance once again, is in effect a description of every sliding tackle ever made, give or take a foot or two. I maintain that this type of tackle, when carried out properly to win the ball, is an integral part of the game, not to mention the staple diet of many a good defender". The bit I've highlighted there is particularly relevant because as we all saw JT didn't win the ball. Not only did he not win the ball he also caught the player. Now I accept that all players have to make a split second judgement when going for that type of sliding challenge. If they time it right, make contact with the ball and not the player, then of course it's a perfectly legimate tackle. But if players make that type of challenge and get it wrong, as JT did, they can have no argument with a referee sending them off. They know the rules Dorset. Or they should do.

....................Cech Bos....Ivanovich....Alex......A.Cole .................Mikel ...........Lampard....Ballack ....................Kalou ..............Anelka..Drogba

I apologise Butch and Dorset for using such strong words previously but this is something I feel very strongly about and I can't believe that JT's lunge on Osman is being defended by anyone. The fact that other players have done it, or got away with it, doesn't make it right and it doesn't make Terry's flying challenge any less reckless or dangerous. And yes dkw. They should ban those kind of tackles. And they have! And can we be precise about it, you shouldn't even call what JT did a "tackle". To tackle someone surely you have to get something on the ball. He was nowhere near the ball. And as I highlighted in my earlier post to Butch, the matter of intent doesn't even come into it. Intent wouldn't have had any difference on the outcome. It was a stupid, reckless lunge, however, I'm certain Terry wasn't going in to break the player's leg. But if Osman hadn't jumped over JT's studs and had had weight bearing on his leg he'd be lying in a hospital bed right now. Intent or not. Also, I'd like to ask a couple of questions here. If Osman hadn't got out of the way and the impact had caught him full on and snapped his leg, would that have made you feel any different about the challenge? Or if it had been say, Jamie Carragher, going in on Frank Lampard like that would you be looking at it from a different perspective? UEFA and FIFA have attempted to rid the game of these type of challenges over the past few seasons. Quite rightly so IMO. The day's of Harris, Hunter, Vinnie Jones and legalised assault on a football pitch are long gone and I welcome that. I believe that the game's administrators were correct in taking steps to protect players from challenges which are reckless and potentially career threatening. Pre-meditated or not. The players know the rules now and know that sliding in, feet off the ground, studs up is going to get them sent off in most cases. So why do it? Lastly, perhaps I am the wrong bloke to be arguing this case. Maybe you should ask someone like Paul Elliott what he thinks about it.

Not often I disagree with you Dorset. But here, on this one I do. And IMO you are 210% wrong. Eboue's challenge on JT last season you are dead right...... awful. Should have been a Red card. But that doesn't excuse JT's tackle last night............... just as dangerous. Awful. Should have been a red card. And was. And everyone in the media today, (Liverplod fan or no), has said the same. It was a truly awful tackle. JT was a complete prat. Arguably it cost us the three points. End of.

Well I thought Drogba did everything that could be expected of him and more when he came on. In very difficult circumstances. But I certainly wouldn't have voted for him!!!

Then you're a very lucky man and she's welcome to sit next to me in the Shed Upper. We could do with some proper supporters up there.

On the contrary Drogba did everything he could when he was brought on. Practically all of it defensive. Worked all the channels central and wide, closed down defenders, made some excellent defensive interceptions in and around our box, challenged for every aerial ball against Lescott and Jagielka etc. Of course with us down to 10 men, (thanks for that JT), and Everton totally up for it he was completely and utterly isolated. Our sole tactic seemed to be to punt the ball in his general direction. Superman would be hard pressed to do anything with that sort of service. Commentator was quite right about the decisions going Everton's way. But then when you fill your home ground with a loud, vocal, partizan crowd rather than with a load of JCL's, Hooray Henrys/Henriettas and Japanese tourists with cameras then refs tend to be swayed and those decisions generally go your way. As an example, there was one point second half where the ball went out of play and in the crowd behind you could see a woman run down a few steps, face contorted with rage and obviously swearing her head off at either the ref or one of our players. That's passionate support for you.

Have to say I'm suprised at you Butch. I'm sorry but not a red card? That's complete and utter garbage. It was a flying lunge, a potential leg-breaker. So, it was one footed not two, but what the hell difference does that make? He was nowhere near the ball, with studs up. I don't particularly care if there was any genuine intent to do harm or not. That's totally irrelevant. If that player hadn't jumped at the moment of impact and had had weight bearing on his leg when JT hit him they'd still be picking up the pieces of bone now. Those "challenges" might have been acceptable during the Harris, Hunter, Lloyd days of football when men were men and a rub with a sponge and a whiff of smelling salts was the only medication required for a shattered tibia. But times have changed and, as had been pointed by others, you cannot get away with that type of reckless assault anymore. Bloody right too IMO.

I'm gob-smacked, completely gob-smacked that anyone can criticise Drogba for his performance last night!! Jesus. H. Christ he came on with 10 men on the pitch, totally isolated up front, and yet popped up all over the pitch putting himself about as per usual. High balls pumped up to him were his only real service, with Lescott and Jagielka tugging at his shirt and practically in his pants but depsite that, as per usual, he won way more than his fair share. There was one occaision near the end of the game where he went in for a 60/40 ball with three Everton around players him hacking at the ball and yet he still came away with it and kept possession. He made one bad error last night where he rifled that 30 yard cross field ball straight to Lescott when he had other, simplier options available. But the amount of work he did defending, closing players down and holding the ball up was bloody excellent given the circumstances. Incidentaly, I agree with all the criticism of Deco, Ballack and Cole for last night's showing but Frank was everybit as crap IMO.

You are joking? Christ, please tell me you're joking?

Haven't read people's opinion's on the JT "tackle". But being as it was JT I dare say there will be many willing to stand up and make a lame attempt to defend that challenge. Not me folks. Nowhere near the ball. Studs up. A sick, reckless, attempted leg-breaker Roy Mental would have been proud of. Deserved two red cards in my book. And to do that in front of one of the most partisan, vociferous crowds in the EPL, shows our Captain Fantastic isn't exactly the sharpest chisel in the tool shed. What a numpty. Everybit as stupid as Drogba's sending off against ManU in the CL final. But will JT get caned for it like Drogba did? I won't hold my breath. Normally you'd say the best team wins the league. I think whoever wins it this year you can say it was the best of a poor bunch. PS: Can anyone tell me the last time we played a team that didn't have any recognised strikers on the pitch for the entire game?

If anybody votes for any player other than Petr Cech, Loz and Mod are totally justified in banning them. If anybody votes for John Terry, Lampard or Deco, Loz and Mod are totally justified in having them shot.

No argument there. For all he did for us he should, (and I'm sure he will), be given a great reception on his return.

All true. But......................... He kept playing JFH every week. He kept telling everyone how good Man U and Arsenal were. He kept telling everyone how good Theirry Henry was. ManU and Arsenal fans loved him. You never knew what team he was going to pick. Apart from Jimmy. He never knew what team he was going to pick. Apart from Jimmy. He couldn't instill the self-belief the players needed. Don't get me wrong Loz. Bloody nice bloke and I absolutely respect what he did for us and how he carried himself in difficult circumstances. But we both know we would never have won the league with him in charge.

Hhmmmm. I remember we spoke about this very early in the season. I said I was getting quite worried about the mousers luck, their propensity for coming from behind and scoring so many late goals, and their growing self-belief. You basically assured me I had nothing to worry about and predicted Liverplod would soon revert to type. Namely, their usual flattering to decieve, close but no banana, season. Well, I have to say they are still the team to overtake and proving you wrong with every big result. And today, away from home with no Skrtel, Torres and Mascherano, (for us read Carvalho, Mikel and Drogba out), they secured another more than useful point against a top side. To date, they have played all of the rival top four teams and have yet to lose. More significantly three of those results have come away from home. Draws at Villa and Le Arse. A win against us. And at home, a win against ManUre. Now, hopefully, this season will prove the exception to the rule. But over recent years the results against your closest rivals, the top four teams, dictates who wins the League. If that remains the case, the mousers are bang on target. I'm still gonna trust in your judgement Westway and pray the wheels fall off their wagon. But let's look at the figures for the big matches against the top four teams. Them, eight points out of twelve with three away games played. Us, four points out of twelve with three home games played. I know whose record I'd rather have. No wonder tubby and the calm downs are feeling confident.

I'm two thirds the way through the book at the moment. Interesting read. I always rated Canners as a player and have particularly fond memories of him because I was one of the lucky ones at Hillsborough that night. Incidentally, I'd give a testicle to know who the Chelsea team-mate was who called him a "black c**t" and attacked him with a golf club. Any old timer who has that information and knows the name, feel free to PM me.